Up close with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II (pictures)

The second generation OM-D E-M5 shares the same retro aesthetic as earlier cameras in the series.

This camera is the first Olympus model to really take video recording seriously. There are selectable frame rates (finally!) as well as a microphone input for better audio quality. Recording can be done in either All-I or IPB, while the Olympus image stabilization system also works in movie mode.

Dials have been refined ever so slightly to give a smooth, tactile response when turning. The overall button design has been simplified from the earlier E-M5 allowing for plenty of custom function options for those who like to tweak.

The LCD touchscreen now rotates around the side axis, rather than a top hinge as found on earlier cameras.

Launched at the same time as the E-M5 Mark II is a new 14-150mm f/4-5.6 lens, equivalent to 10.7x optical zoom. It's also splash and dust-proof to complement the camera body.

The OM-D E-M5 Mark II comes with a locking mode dial, to prevent it from accidentally slipping into an undesired mode when out and about.

Although the sensor is only 16 megapixels, the OM-D E-M5 Mark II can output files at 40 megapixels thanks to a new sensor shift feature. By shifting the sensor by half a pixel's width for each photo in the sequence, the camera takes 8 shots and then stitches them together for a high-resolution image. You will need to use a tripod for this mode, as any camera or subject movement will result in an odd-looking image.